I saw The Last Dinner Party in Newcastle and was transported into an alternative Tyneside by one of the best bands in the UK

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The third night of the band’s UK tour was one to remember for their North East fans.

O2 City Hall was arguably the ideal venue in the city for the band’s largest North East date yet. The five piece played The Cluny just last year, and the night felt like a celebration of the incredible rise in front of a sold out City Hall.

Walking into the venue, fans were instantly transported into the world the group have wanted to create for themselves. One of dramatic gracefulness, without overt opulence. Large drapes were hung from the top of the venue’s main room on either side of an almost mediaeval backdrop of a starry sky and crescent moon.

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Flowers and ribbons adorned the stage and between sets dramatic classical music was played, which wouldn’t have seemed out of place in both an early 20th century music hall or early Star Wars soundtrack.

The Last Dinner Party in NewcastleThe Last Dinner Party in Newcastle
The Last Dinner Party in Newcastle | Jason Button

Even the support sets seemed perfectly crafted for the night, with opener (and North East local) Frankie Archer’s electro-folk leaning towards elements of the headliner’s sound, while Kaeto edged closer to My Lady Of Mercy and Sinner from the group. Credit needs to go to both The Last Dinner Party and the supports for finding a way to build the night into what it became, through curated sounds and setlist which developed into the dramatic headline set.

Kicking off with the first three songs from the album in the same order, it was clear why the group had received so much praise over the last 12 months. Writing, building and promoting a number one debut album is impressive enough, but being able to have that energy transition so smoothly into a live setting was something to behold.

The well oiled machine the five band members and touring drummer are already part of didn’t reduce space for personal flourishes. Each member got their moments on their main instrument while lead vocalist Abigail Morris orchestrated the stage and entire room to perfection.

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Morris seemed to both glide across the stage while doing so with such presence, and power it was tough to take your eyes off her. For a band who are still relatively new to the scene for many, and themselves are new to headlining rooms the size of City Hall, it felt like they had been at this level for years.

That isn’t to mean they seemed to be going through the motions. Yes, parts of the set which saw members switch spots on the stage and build onto one step were almost definitely choreographed, but it was done with such a presumed freedom and joy where nothing seemed forced.

Abigail Morris of The Last Dinner PartyAbigail Morris of The Last Dinner Party
Abigail Morris of The Last Dinner Party | Jason Button

The setlist also gave fans exactly what they wanted, with a 15 song setlist including every song from their hugely popular debut album, as well as the title track being played before the group entered.

Each member got a chance to show off what they can do, something which has been shown in the past through previous TV appearances, specifically those on US TV where Morris has worked her way around the performance areas to show off her bandmates abilities.

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The lead singer took two moments away from the spotlight to give enhanced emphasis on other stunning vocalists - Gjuha, a sing sung in Albanian from the album was mainly performed by the band’s keyboard and piano player Aurora Nishevci about their relationship with their mother tongue while a Cover of Catherine Howe’s Up North was immaculately sung by Lizzie Mayland.

The second cover of the night was a major highlight, when the group smashed out a brilliantly energetic version of Blondie’s Call Me which would make Debbie Harry herself blush. Headed up by Morris, the cover saw the band really get into a groove you rarely see from acts performing songs away from their own.

This only goes to show what makes The Last Dinner Party such an enigma to many at the moment. As well as the song subjects of identity throughout the set, the group perform in a way which can’t help but make you smile. The album is impressive, but you really aren’t getting the full TLDP experience without a night seeing it in a live setting.

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